A little beachy get together of a lot of (not all) my trans femme characters!!

A thing I meant to post before the end of Pride Month. Since I didn't draw anything this year, I wanted to post this piece from summer 2020 that I never posted. June 2022 was really rough, so I’m also calling on some past good vibes. All we have are each other.

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PARADISE CHAPTER SIX // Page 24

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Sweden playlist

Goodness! The Swedish Chef is deliriously pleased with this Sweden playlist. Det här är otroligt! It’s not far off 350 songs. Can we get there? I think so. (I tried to get songs by Retaliation and 10,000 years, but maybe later when someone puts up those songs on Youtube). This is epic!

What songs and bands have I overlooked for this? I bet there’s plenty. Sweden is just oozing with so much talent and so many great bands. Listen to the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-iHPcxymC1-HqTl9SJKkER2dKbR2NWkE Add your songs and suggestions. Tack! SWEDEN

001 The Muppet Show - Swedish Chef goes bezerk in the kitchen 002 Grand Magus -  Fear Is The Key 003 In Flames -  Pinball Map 004 Entombed - Like This With The Devil 005 Soilwork - Figure Number Five 006 The Divine Comedy - Sweden 007 Bathory - Reaper 008 ABBA - Take a Chance On Me 009 Therion - Gothic Kabbalah 010 Moloko - Indigo 011 Katatonia - I Break 012 Opeth - The Baying Of The Hounds 013 Sabaton -  Carolus Rex 014 Europe - Scream Of Anger 015 Jean-Louis Aubert - Stockholm 016 Blues Pills -  Jupiter 017 Amon Amarth  - The Pursuit of Vikings 018 Triakel - Alla Gossar (Swedish folk music ) 019 Arcana - As the End Draws Near 020 Kenta  Guldkorn  - Stockholm 021 Tiamat - Whatever That Hurts   022 AVATARIUM - The Starless Sleep 023 Spiritual Beggars  -  Star Born 024 Dismember - Dreaming In Red 025 Lasse Berghagen - Pomperipossa 026 In Solitude - Sister 027 Sahg III - Baptism of Fire 028 Ebba Grön - Mona Tumbas Slim Club 029 Nightingale -  The Dreamreader 030 Roxette - Dressed For Success 031 Ghost - Rats 032 Yngwie J. Malmsteen – Far Beyond The Sun 033 Candlemass - Crystal Ball 034 Bathory - Under The Runes 035 Orup - Stockholm 036 Katla - Embryo 037 Pugh Rogefeldt - hog farm 038 Trees of Eternity - Gallows Bird (feat. Nick Holmes) 039 Paatos - Shame 040 THE STRANGLERS  - SWEDEN 041 Katatonia - Brave   042 Brighter Death Now - No Salvation 043 Nationalteatern - Livet är en fest 044 Meshuggah -  Bleed 045 Sir Douglas Quintet  - Meet Me In Stockholm   046 Ulf Lundell - Stockholm City 047 In Mourning - Fire & Ocean 048 Dark Tranquillity - The Science Of Noise 049 Blue Swede - Hooked On a Feeling 050 Clawfinger - The Truth 051 John Coltrane - Dear Old Stockholm 052 The Hellacopters - In The Sign Of The Octopus 053 Hypocrisy -  a coming race 054 Carola - Mig Var Du Står 055 Bloodbath - Let The Stillborn Come To Me 056 Vapnet - Stockholm sett snett uppifran 057 Mercy - Im Your Pervert Priest 058 The Spotnicks - Hava Nagila 059 Vanhelgd - Allt Hopp ar Fobi 060 Mammoth Storm - Fornjot 061 Vomitory - redemption 062 Entrails - No Cross Left Unturned 063 Virna Lindt - Attention Stockholm 064 Night - Fire Across the Sky 065 Dungen dar -  Har du vart i Stockholm 066 The Hives - Hate To Say I Told You So 067 Sabaton - Gott Mit Uns 068 Svante Thuresson Och Totta Näslund - Stockholm Sweetnin' 069 Lake of Tears -  To Blossom Blue 070 Scott Walker - The Seventh Seal 071 Garmarna - Vänner och fränder   072 Stockholms Negrer - Det förlovade landet 073 Thåström - Ballad om en gammal knarkare 074 The Haunted - Godpuppet 075 Ordo Equilibrio - The First Harvest 076 Therion -  The Dreams Of Swedenborg 077 VINTERSORG - Fjällets mäktiga mur   078 Aeon - Aeons Black 079 Arckanum - Trulmælder 080 Edge of Sanity - Enigma   081 Scar Symmetry - The Illusionist 082 Tribulation -  Melancholia 083 Witchcraft - It's Not Because Of You 084 At The Gates - At The Gates 085 Unleashed - The One Insane 086 Candlemass - ancient dreams 087 Hasse Andersson - Guld och grona skogar   088 Crucified Barbara -  Electric Sky 089 Evergrey -  The Grand Collapse 090 Lord Belial - Bleed on the Cross 091 Hedningarna - Räven 092 Dismember - Pieces (with intro) 093 Entombed  - Sinners Bleed 094 MUSE - Stockholm Syndrome 095 Bathory - Valhalla 096 Gösta Berlings Saga - The Shortcomings Of Efficiency 097 Tiamat - The Ar 098 Oz - Turn the cross upside down 099 Grand Magus - I Am The North 100 Soilwork -  Light The Torch 101 Spiritual Beggars - Fools Gold 102 Stuck In Motion - Moon 103 Cult of Luna - Receiver 104 Arcana - A Cage 105 Memento Mori - The Seeds of Hatred 106 Wolfbrigade - Barren Dreams 107 Dr Zeke - Jag Ska Aldrig Dö 108 Yngwie Malmsteen - gimme gimme gimme (your lust after midnight) 109 Arch Enemy - Pilgrim 110 Torch - Watcher Of The Night 111 Magic - Vi drar på disco 112 Refused -  Elektra 113 Grave - Into The Grave 114 Lädernunnan - Ensam I Natt 115 The Orchard Enterprises - Fear Might Harm Self 116 Suma - Swordlord 117 Kulning - Ancient Swedish herdingcall 118 Bob Hund - Ska du hanga med Na 119 Dark Funeral - As One We Shall Conquer 120 Disfear - Get it off   121 Ghost -  From The Pinnacle To The Pit 122 Morbus Chron - Chains 123 Heavy Load - Traveller 124 Therion - Tuna 1613 125 Entombed -  Left Hand Path 126 Hearse - Mountain of the Solar Eclipse 127 Monolord - The Last Leaf 128 Night Viper - The Wolverine 129 Agrimonia - A World Unseen 130 Jonathan Hultén - Nightly sun 131 Diabolical Masquerade - Blackheim's Quest To Bring Back The Stolen Autumn 132 Army Of Lovers - Crucified 133 Dissection - Where Dead Angels Lie   134 Noctum _Liberty in Death 135 Europe - Open Your Heart 136 Darkane  - Secondary Effects 137 Candlemass - Codex Gigas 138 Bathory - Enter Your Mountain 139 ABBA - Ring Ring (Bara du slog en signal) Swedish Version 140 Watain - Malfeitor 141 Louise Lemón - Devil 142 Cult Of Luna - Vague Illusions 143 Diablo Swing Orchestra -  Black Box Messiah 144 Opeth - Nectar 145 Hills - Milarepa 146 Ceremonial Oath - The Book Of Truth 147 Dark Tranquillity - Silence And the Firmament Withdrew 148 Göteborg Sound - Björn Borg 149 In Flames -  Reflect The Storm 150 MESHUGGAH - Demiurge   151 Expiremental Pop Band - Gothenburg 152 Millencolin - polar bears 153 Hedningarna - Pornopolka 154 Ratata - Ogon Av Is Liv Utan Spanning   155 OBSCURITY - Roses With Thorns 156 Nifelheim - Sodomizer 157 Soilwork - One With The Flies 158 Gardenian - Netherworld 159 Cemetary - Sundown 160 Månegarm - Hemfärd 161 Garmarna - Herr Mannelig 162 YE BANISHED PRIVATEERS - First Night Back In Port   163 VINTERSORG - Svältvinter 164 SNOWY SHAW - Nachtgeist 165 Moloken - The Titan Above Us 166 BEWITCHED - HARD AS STEEL (HOT AS HELL) 167 The Night Flight Orchestra - Green Hills Of Glumslov 168 Vanhelgd - Gravens Lovsång 169 Marduk - Christraping Black Metal 170 Garbochock - Streberbarn 171 Negative Self - Back On Track 172 Nightingale - Sleep 173 Iggy Pop - Five Foot One 174 Owe Thörnqvist - Varm korv boogie 175 Candlemass - Elephant Star 176 Tiamat - Cold Seed 177 Dismember - Shadowlands 178 Hypocrisy - Penetralia 179 Therion - Melez 180 Yngwie Malmsteen - You Dont Remember Ill Never Forget 181 Woven Hand -  Swedish Purse 182 Roxette - Joyride 183 Wolf -  Skeleton Woman 184 Europe - Seven doors hotel 185 ABBA - Me Knowing Knowing Youse   186 Opeth - Ghost Of Perdition 187 Katatonia - I Am Nothing 188 Sabaton - Uprising 189 Bathory - Total destruction 190 Cult Of Luna - Owlwood 191 Cortex - Warrior Night 192 Trettioåriga Kriget - Krigssång 193 Lee Hazlewood A House Safe for Tigers 194 Dead Sleep - Back to black 195 Greenleaf  - Tides 196 The Crimson Shadows - When I'm Going Away 197 The Night Flight Orchestra - Transmissions 198 Anekdoten - Nucleus 199 Enhet För Fri Musik - Det Finns Ett Hjärta 200 In Flames - Jotun 201 Dungen - Ta det lugnt 202 Ghost - Ritual 203 Witchery - A Paler Shade of Death 204 Landberk - Tell 205 At The Gates - Blinded By Fear   206 Anna von Hausswolff - Epitaph of Theodor 207 Uran - Mr Piggy 208 Runemagick  Remnants of the Old 209 SKÁLD - Flúga 210 Sacramentum - Far Away from the Sun 211 Dawn - Malediction Murder 212 Nifelheim - No more life 213 Craft - The Cosmic Sphere Falls 214 Solitude Aeturnus -  Waiting for the Light 215 ARCH ENEMY - War Eternal 216 Nasum - Worldcraft 217 Insision - No Belief 218 The Oath - silk road 219 Shining - Förtvivlan Min Arvedel 220 Burst - I Exterminate The I 221 Bloodbound - Stormborn 222 Puissance - Love Incinerate 223 Electric Boys - All Lips 'n Hips 224 Exgenisis - Embers 225 Don Cherry - GamlaStan - The Old Town By Night 226 Raison D'etre -  Sub Specie Aeternitatis 227 Bloodbath  - Weak aside 228 Therion -  Opus Eclipse 229 Cult of Luna - I: The Weapon 230 Marduk - The Sun Turns Black as Night 231 Ragnar Grippe - Symphonic Songs: Part 1 232 Unanimated - From a Throne Below 233 Entombed - Hollowman 234 Grande Royale - Royale 235 PAGANIZER  - Soulless Feeding Machine 236 Bathory - Woman of Dark Desires 237 Paranorm - Critical Mass 238 Refused - The Deadly Rhythm 239 Golgata - Med din kyss kom mörkret 240 Ett Dödens Maskineri – ‘Låsta dörrar 241 MÖRK GRYNING - Fältherren   242 Daughter Chaos - The space born 243 BLUES PILLS - Rhythm In The Blood 244 LUCIFER - Ghosts 245 November - Mount Everest 246 Dissection - Night's Blood 247 Tøronto - Lights Out At Bedlam 248 ICE AGE - Breaking The Ice 249 Sweven - By Virtue of a Promise 250 Ghost-  Year Zero 251 TRIBULATION - Strange Gateways Beckon 252 Drain S.T.H. - Crack the Liar´s Smile 253 Horisont - Odyssey 254 Witchcraft - Snake 255 Kirstie Sarboe - Ein Student Aus Uppsala 256 Sodomisery - Reapers Key 257 Opeth - Under The Weeping Moon 258 Olle Adolphson - Gustav Lindströms visa 259 Therion - The Wild Hunt 260 Bloodbath - Bloodicide 261 Bathory - The Golden Walls of Heaven 262 Soilwork - Follow the Hollow 263 Magnus Härenstam - Huddinge, Tullinge, Tumba 264 OBSTRUKTION - Hopeless Path 265 Amon Amarth - The Way Of Vikings 266 Anguish - When the Ancients Dare to Walk 267 Palme sköt först - Spiders 268 Totalitär - Allt Är Inom Dig 269 Vassago - Sign of Vassago 270 Larma - Elitens Eskapism 271 ENSNARED - Anti-Prophet 272 Third Storm - Forgotten Deity 273 Chronic Decay - Ecstasy In Pain 274 Transport League - Man Sized Drain 275 Nasum - mass hypnosis 276 Inevitable End - Memento 277 Candlemass - Dancing in the Temple (Of the Mad Queen Bee) 278 Gadget - Remote 279 Sayyadina - Nothing 280 Coldworker - The Contaminated Void 281 Katatonia - Teargas 282 In Flames - Dead God in Me 283 Trial - Motherless 284 Watain - Satan's Hunger 285 Bewitched - Rise Of The Antichrist 286 Shining - Jag Är Din Fiende 287 In Solitude - Witches Sabbath 288 Comecon - The House That Man Built 289 Marduk - The Black Tormentor of Satan 290 Lifelover - M/s salmonella 291 Naglfar - Enslave the Astral Fortress 292 Sacrilege - Sweet Moment of Triumph   293 Spiritual Beggars - Monster Astronauts 294 Massgrav - Det Här Är Stockholm 295 IRON LAMB - Backstabbers 296 The Hives - Tick Tick Boom 297 Candlemass - Dark Reflections 298 Megatomb - Forbidden Altar 299 Entrails - Condemned to the Grave 300 Katatonia - Gateways of Bereavement 301 Träd, Gräs och Stenar - Sanningens Silverflod (Djungelns Lag) 302 Hammerfall - Let the Hammer Fall 303 Obnoxious Youth - Mouths Sewn Shut 304 GRAND MAGUS - Wolf God 305 Dark Funeral - Unchain my soul 306 Entombed - Say it in slugs 307 Amon Amarth - Runes to My Memory 308 Ghost - Absolution 309 Hypocrisy  - Dominion 310 Edge of Sanity - Darkday 311 Orbit Culture - North Star of Nija 312 Cemetary - Caress the Damned 313 DOZER - Through The Eyes Of Heathens 314 Grave - Now and Forever 315 ARCH ENEMY - Bury Me An Angel 316 Skraeckoedlan - Universam 317 Cult of Luna - I remember 318 Doris  Svensson - Did You Give The World Some Love Today, Baby 319 Svard - A Rift in the Green 320 Evergrey - Monday Morning Apocalypse 321 Lightbringer - Lightbringer in Sweden 322 Bastard Priest - ghouls of the endless night 323 Westkust - Cotton Skies 324 Maggot Heart - sex breath 325 Abruptum - De Profundis Mors Vas Consumet 325 Raised Fist - Flow 326 Makthaverskan - Antabus 327 Eternal of Sweden - Heaven's gate 328 Wolfbrigade - Fire Untamed 329 Fyfan - Intrangd Och Instangd 330 Opeth - Svekets prins 331 Martyrdöd - Hexhammeren 332 The Haunted - Liquid Burns 333 Dismember - Override of the Overture 444 Bathory - Under the Runes 666 Dark tranquillity - A Bolt of Blazing Gold

Play the songs here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-iHPcxymC1-HqTl9SJKkER2dKbR2NWkE

Next edition of Sweden playlist will have tracks from: God Macabre, Deutsch Nepal , Retaliation, In Slaughter Natives and 10,000 Years.

39

39. What type of music do you like?

Honestly, a bit of everything really. I can pull up the "my mix" playlist YouTube threw together for me and find all eras of Taylor Swift mixed in with some Owl City, a dozen different Broadway musicals (from Mean Girls to Les Mis to Wicked to Finding Neverland to Seussical) and a dozen different cartoons (from Phineas and Ferb to Sofia the First to The Backyardigans to MLP to Hazbin Hotel) and a dozen different movies (from Trolls to Moana to The Greatest Showman to Muppets Most Wanted), some pop rock, a bit of Babymetal, some Lindsey Stirling, a bunch of english covers of anime or vocaloid songs, some creepypasta fan songs, a heck ton of upbeat pop songs, a bunch of more acoustic songs, some DCOM soundtracks, some Starkid, a few Minecraft song parodies, a few sea shanties, a few songs from decades ago that my parents listen to, those songs Elise Ecklund wrote from people's random comments, some indie music from YouTube songwriters (from Dodie to Emma Blackery to Malinda Reese to Madilyn Bailey), some literal parodies of Disney songs, some fan songs for video games (most of which I’ve never played), some fan songs for cartoons I watch, fan songs for a particular horror podcast I’ve listened to, a bit of The Crane Wives, a bit of Lemon Demon, a bit of Kalafina, a bit of Panic! at the Disco, a bit of Nsync, a bit of Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq., a bit of Carrie Underwood, a bit of Avenue Beat, Alec Benjamin, Emilie Autumn, Kacey Musgraves, Parry Gripp, Weird Al, Evelyn Evelyn, Aviators, 4everfreebrony, Karliene, CG5, OR3O, AJR, The Amazing Devil, Brian David Gilbert, Sara Kays, Bo Burnham, Tom Cardy, Ginny Di, Aurelio Voltaire, Rachel Rose Mitchell... You get the idea. My music taste is super varied.

AUTUMN — YEAR OF DAIRY PRODUCTS FROM THE AMERICAN HEARTLAND

[...] [DFW, Infinite Jest, 10b]

Gately could easily have screwed out of there and never looked back; but here indeed, in the lamplight, is a seascape over next to the chiffonnier, and the associate has a quick peek and reports that the safe behind it is to laugh at, it can be opened with harsh language, almost; and oral narcotics addicts tend to operate on an extremely rigid physical schedule of need and satisfaction, and Gately is at this moment firmly in the need part of the schedule; and so D. W. Gately disastrously decides to go ahead and allow a nonviolent burglary to become in effect a robbery — which the operative legal difference involves either violence or the coercive threat of same — and Gately draws himself up to his full menacing height and shines his flashlight in the little homeowner's rheumy eyes and addresses him the way menacing criminals speak in popular entertainment — d's for th's, various apocopes, and so on — and takes hold of the guy's ear and conducts him down to a kitchen chair and binds his arms and legs to the chair with electrical cords neatly clipped from refrigerator and can-opener and M. Cafe-brand Automatic Café-au-Lait-Maker, binds him just short of gangrenously tight, because he's hoping the Berkshire foliage is prime and the guy's going to be soloing in this chair for a good stretch of time, and Gately starts looking through the kitchen's drawers for the silverware — not the good-silver-for-company silverware; that was in a calfskin case underneath some neatly folded old spare Christmas wrapping in a stunning hardwood-with-ivory-inlay chest of drawers in the living room, where over 90% of upscale people's good silver is always hidden, and has already been promoted and is piled [18] just off the foyer — but just the regular old everyday flatware silverware, because the vast bulk of homeowners keep their dish towels two drawers below their everyday-silverware drawer, and God's made no better call-for-help-stifling gag in the world than a good old oily-smelling fake-linen dish towel; and the bound guy in the cords on the chair suddenly snaps to the implications of what Gately's looking for and is struggling and saying: Do not gag me, I have a terrible cold, my nose she is a brick of the snot, I have not the power to breathe through the nose, for the love of God please do not gag my mouth; and as a gesture of goodwill the homeowner tells Gately, who's rummaging, the combination of the bedroom's seascape safe, except in French numbers, which together with the honking adenoidal inflection the guy's grippe gives his speech doesn't even sound like human speech to Gately, and but also the guy tells Gately there are some antique pre-British-takeover Québecois gold coins in a calfskin purse taped to the back of an undistinguished Impressionist landscape in the living room. But everything the Canadian homeowner says means no more to poor old Don Gately, whistling a jolly tune and trying to look menacing in his clown's mask, than the cries of, say, North Shore gulls or inland grackles; and sure enough the towels are two drawers under the spoons, and here comes Gately across the kitchen looking like a sort of Bozo from hell, and the Québecer guy's mouth goes oval with horror, and into that mouth goes a balled-up, faintly greasy-smelling kitchen towel, and across the guy's cheeks and over the dome of protruding linen goes some fine-quality fibrous strapping tape from the drawer under the decommissioned phone — why does everybody keep the serious mailing supplies in the drawer nearest the kitchen phone? — and Don Gately and associate finish their swift and with-the-best-of-intentions nonviolent business of stripping the Brookline home as bare as a post-feral-hamster meadow, and they relock the front door and hit the unlit road in Gately's reliable and double-mufflered 4x4. And the bound, wheezing, acetate-clad Canadian — the right-hand man to probably the most infamous anti-O.N.A.N. organizer north of the Great Concavity, the lieutenant and trouble-shooting trusted adviser who selflessly volunteered to move with his family to the savagely American area of metro Boston to act as liaison between and general leash-holder for the half-dozen or so malevolent and mutually antagonistic groups of Québecer Separatists and Albertan ultra-rightists united only in their fanatical conviction that the U.S.A.'s Experialistic 'gift' or 'return' of the so-calledly 'Reconfigured' Great Convexity to its northern neighbor and O.N.A.N. ally constituted an intolerable blow to Canadian sovereignty, honor, and hygiene — this homeowner, unquestionably a V.I.P., although admittedly rather a covert V.I.P., or probably more accurately a 'P.I.T.' [19], in French, this meek-looking Canadian-terrorism-coordinator — bound to his chair, thoroughly gagged, sitting there, alone, under cold fluorescent kitchen lights [20], the rhinovirally afflicted man, gagged with skill and quality materials — the guy, having worked so hard to partially clear one clotted nasal passage that he tore intercostal ligaments in his ribs, soon found even that pinprick of air blocked off by mucus's implacable lava-like flow once again, and so has to tear more ligaments trying to breach the other nostril, and so on; and after an hour of struggle and flames in his chest and blood on his lips and the white kitchen towel from trying frantically to tongue the towel out past the tape, which is quality tape, and after hopes skyrocketing when the doorbell rings and then hopes blackly dashed when the person at the door, a young woman with a clipboard and chewing gum who's offering promotional coupons good for Happy Holidays discounts on memberships of six months or more at a string of Boston non-UV tanning salons, shrugs in her parka and makes a mark on the clipboard and blithely retreats down the long driveway to the pseudo-rural road, an hour of this or more, finally the Québecois P.I.T., after unspeakable agony — slow suffocation, mucoidal or no, being no day at the Montreal Tulip-Fest — at the height of which agony, hearing his head's pulse as receding thunder and watching his vision's circle shrink as a red aperture around his sight rotates steadily in from the edges, at the height of which he could think only, despite the pain and panic, of what a truly dumb and silly way this was, after all this time, to die, a thought which the towel and tape denied expression via the rueful grin with which the best men meet the dumbest ends — this Guillaume DuPlessis passed bluely from this life, and sat there, in the kitchen chair, 250 clicks due east of some really spectacular autumn foliage, for almost two nights and days, his posture getting more and more military as rigor mortis set in, with his bare feet looking like purple loaves of bread, from the lividity; and when Brookline's Finest were finally summoned and got him unbound from the coldly lit chair, they had to carry him out as if he were still seated, so militarily comme-il-faut had his limbs and spine hardened. And poor old Don Gately, whose professional habit of killing power with straight shunts to a meter's inflow was pretty much a signature M.O., and who had, of course, a special place in the heart of a remorseless Revere A.D.A. with judicial clout throughout Boston's three counties and beyond, an of course particularly remorseless A.D.A., as of late, whose wife now needed Valium even just to floss, and was patiently awaiting his chance, the A.D.A. was, coldly biding his time, being a patient Get-Even and Cold-Dish man just like Don Gately, who was, through no will to energy-consuming violence on his part, in the sort of a hell of a deep-shit mess that can turn a man's life right around.

[...] [DFW, Infinite Jest, 10c]

The Midwife

AO3 :: Previously

IX

I lay awake all night, wrestling with the gnawing doubt and the longing in my heart. I tossed and turned, and gave up sleep around dawn. I also gave up any pretense that I did not want Jamie, very much. His smile, his demeanor, everything was so different from other men I knew. There was kindness, there was warmth, and most surprisingly perhaps—a genuine interest to know me, my thoughts, my past, who Claire was.

No, Mother Hildegarde was right. I could not make a happy nun. Would Maman wish me to pursue my feelings, to accept this attraction, to hope, to love? My heart beat queerly at this unexpected consideration. Did I love James Fraser? Could he love me?

I watched the sun rise through the bars of my cell window. It touched the green herbs in the garden; everything else was dying in the autumn chill, waiting for spring to be reborn. But I did not have to wait that long. In the dim, I dressed, a new resolve within me, and I yielded to the sudden joy that burst in my chest, and I accepted this feeling in my heart with all my soul.

Autumn sunshine also steeped the hospital corridors, crisp air imbuing the space with cleanliness. I took a deep breath as I walked into the sick bay. I was determined to apologize, subtly let him know that I shared his regard,  and see where that led us. I turned to corner towards Jamie’s pallet.

Malva was there again.

She was helping him sit up, and I saw him wince as her motions accidentally pulled at the stitches I had set the day before. Malva wasn’t a poor healer, but she tended to be forgetful or careless. I wasn’t having it, not where Jamie was concerned.

“Mademoiselle Christie!” I called out, fixing a fake cheery smile on my face. “Sister Minèrve has need of you. She is in the apothecary stores.” The room where we dried, set, and prepared various herbal remedies was located on the other side of l’hôpital, across the small graveyard, through the convent. It would probably take her ten minutes to get there, and then some more to return. The lie was inconsequential; I knew the sister could always use help preparing cures and tonics.

Malva stood, red creeping up her neck and face. “Why can you not assist Sister Minèrve? I will attend to Jamie.”

I spared a glance at the man in question; he looked at me in confusion at my sudden turnabout. I gave him a brief smile, letting it touch my eyes, and Jamie visibly relaxed.

“Monsieur Fraser,” I emphasized his formal title, “has had enough of your attentions, I believe. Please do as you are told, child. And wash your hands. This is not the Hôtel Dieu.” Flushed with anger at my dismissal, she stomped off towards the door. I did not care for her belligerent attitude, and made a mental note to speak to Madame Bonheur. I did not wish to get her in trouble, but perhaps a serious talking-to would help her adjust—and acknowledge my seniority.

After Malva was gone, I sat beside him, finally able to look Jamie in the eye instead of having him lie down. “I did not mean to be so rude. Yesterday. When you, um—” I flailed my hands uselessly.

Jamie reached out and took one of my hands in his own, steady and reassuring. “Mistress, dinna worry. I ken ye are otherwise occupied, and I am not yer only responsibility, and it was terribly selfish to demand so much of yer time.”

“Oh, not at all!” I blushed. “I… very much enjoy your company. Please, call me Claire. Or Sassenach. I know you were trying to be friendly, and I… would like to be your friend.” Perhaps more.

“Alright, lass,” Jamie smiled. “A fresh start. Do ye think we have time before Miss Christie returns?” A teasing twinkle in his eye told me he knew perfectly well I had sent her away on purpose. The use of Miss Christie instead of her name was meant to indicate he was not so close to her as I had feared.

“We have time to talk,” I agreed, settling in as comfortably as I could on the hard stone floor. “Let us begin with… well, I would like to know about your family.”

Jamie’s eyes lit up. “How many generations back?”

* * *

Malva did not return that day. Or the next. She did not approach Jamie or me anymore; I knew she was actively avoiding me, particularly after Madame Bonheur lectured her sternly. I saw her occasionally, nodded to her when our paths crossed, but she turned away from any gesture I made. The maîtresses sage femme wisely kept us apart on a rotating timetable.

Jamie continued to heal quickly; I removed his stitches a week later, after we had spent inordinate amounts of time talking. We discussed anything and everything, from his studies and my apprenticeship to our families, our dreams, our lives.

“It was la grippe,” I told him quietly. “Influenza. It took her fast.” A tear slipped unheeded down my cheek. Jamie dashed it away.

“Ye could not have known, a leannan. I’m sure ye did everything ye could for her.”

“Will it always feel this way, do you think?” I asked him. “I am fine most of the time, and out of nowhere I remember Maman, and it hits my chest like I’ve been struck. It feels like I can’t breathe, like I’ve just lost her…”

“Not always, Sassenach.” Jamie offered me a gentle smile, the ones I treasured best. “We will always miss those we loved and lost. To mourn her is to respect her memory. But grief is not a place to stay, and when ye least expect it, the pain in yer memories will only be love.”

“Love.” I looked down at my hands, suddenly shy and self-conscious. He moved a bit closer and took my hand in his.

“Sometimes ‘tis easier when we touch, no?” Jamie said. We sat unmoving until the awkwardness passed. “Sassenach, might I ask ye something?”

“Of course, Jamie.”

He hesitated. “Is this… usual? What it is between us?”

I shifted. “I couldn’t say Jamie. I cannot pretend to have had vast experience with men—”

“Och, lass, I dinna mean to imply ye did!” He looked alarmed.

“Indeed!” I laughed. “I’ve never been… close to anyone, like I am with you. But if I had to say… then no, Jamie. This feels different. Special.”

“Close, ye say.” Jamie squeezed my hand before letting go and tilting my chin up with a finger. His eyes burned into mine, dropping briefly to my mouth and back. “This close?”

My breath hitched, heart racing. His finger traced my lower lip lightly, seeking permission. I closed my eyes in acquiescence. Jamie’s lips were soft, tentative, pressing gently and unhurried. Warmth bloomed inside me, love and hope and joy triumphant.

We broke apart, and Jamie’s hand caressed my face, as I had once done to him. My amber eyes searched his fathomless blue and found nothing but truth and tenderness. My previous bashfulness was gone, and all I wanted was to taste him again.

“Claire, am I the first man to kiss ye?” Jamie asked.

I bowed my head, an answer in and of itself.

He leaned close once more, brushing his lips against mine in a whisper: “I want to be the last.”

FIC: Spice

Summary: The problem with secrets is they only stay secrets when no one knows them.

Warnings: This chapter is Rated M for mature. 

Notes: Even more from @cheapbourbon ‘s village AU.

The story so far:

Crimson

Yellow

Blue

Blush

Sallow

Russet

Also on AO3

~~*~~ 

The world went on without a care for Rus’s eagerness for Wednesdays. Life in the village was unchanged, with a few small deviations.

For one, Rus did their weekly shopping on Monday morning, getting up early to go to the store the moment the shopkeeper opened. Only farmers and their kin were up at this hour, alongside the shopkeeper’s wife, who was able to smile politely at Rus and meet his eyes, as her husband no longer did. Much as Rus would have preferred sleeping a little longer, it was well worth it to return home unscathed, with Blue coming down the stairs as he came back in the door.

His brother didn’t question Rus’s new schedule, but there was a shadow in his eye lights, and a sadness. Likely blaming himself for not protecting Rus and that was ridiculous. He wasn’t a child, he could handle his own problems, and the fact that Blue was allowing him to said that he thought so as well.

It did not stop him from taking advantage of Blue owing the Dog family a favor. With very little coaxing, he persuaded Blue into making a batch of his spice cookies for them as a thank you. No one in the village made them better than his brother and Dogaressa had a passel of children; surely none of them would turn their wet little noses up at a treat.

Rus kept his hood up walking down the path to their home on the outskirts of town. Autumn was in full force and the wind was chilly this morning. All his venturing into the woods did have one pure benefit, Rus thought ruefully. Not that long ago, walking this far would have left him winded and today he only felt pleasantly tired, and quite able to walk back home when he was ready.

The farmhouse was plainly whitewashed, with a wagon in the midst of repair on the side of the yard. Hardy flowers were still blooming, bright yellows poking their faces out of ancient barrels turned to planters, and the sprawling fields around the house had haycocks ready for the winter dotting them. The curtained windows were glass, a testament to Dogamy’s success as a farmer. It was a cheery, welcoming home and Rus hadn’t a qualm about knocking lightly on the front door.  

A curtain twitched, giving him a glimpse of an eye and part of a muzzle, then it opened to reveal Emma, the eldest of the Dog children.  

“Rus!” Emma exclaimed with genuine pleasure. “What brings you all the way out here?”

He and Emma weren’t age mates, Rus being a handful of years older. He’d babysat for her a time or two when she had been a child, but she’d come of age this summer and was the very picture of a lovely farmer’s daughter. Her delight at seeing him, something none of his actual age mates ever seemed to offer, made Rus smile in return.

“your mother did me a good turn last week when I was ill,” Rus explained, holding up a package, “and my brother always told me that a favor given should have a favor returned before bad luck takes hold.”

“Oh, that’s nonsense!” Emma scoffed, laughing, “Come in, come in! Mamma is in town running the stand and Papa is out in the fields with the boys. It’s only me and Micah home, but come in for tea, won’t you?”

“i shouldn’t—” he started to demur, but Emma had her mother’s determination and her strength, hauling him and his light burden inside. In no time, Rus found himself seated at a well-scrubbed table, a cup and saucer in front of him waiting as the water heated.

The kitchen was filled with a sort of cheerful clutter, a vase of flowers alongside baskets of eggs and apples scattered about and there was a large pot steaming on the back of the stove, likely dinner for the many hungry bellies that would be back this afternoon.

Micah, the youngest pup, the one whom Blue had saved when he was born breech, was still on all fours, crawling happily at their feet. He took hold of the edge of Rus’s cloak and managed to haul himself upright, beaming proudly as Emma exclaimed over his triumph. His crow of glee turned to pleading as he held both arms up to Rus, and soon he was settled into Rus’s lap, sucking on a furry thumb and drowsing while Emma poured tea.

“I haven’t seen you in an age, Rus,” Emma said, stirring sugar into her own cup. “How is your brother?”

“as well as ever.” Rus busied himself opening the package, since cookies were excellent with tea. “busy, lately, there’s a grippe going around and fall always seems to be a busy time for little ones choosing to be born. he keeps on his feet, to be sure.”

“That’s good to hear,” Emma gave him a sad smile. “I do think of him from time to time. It was a terrible thing that happened, leaving him a widower so young.”

“it was,” Rus said, low, with a pang of his own grief, and they both made signs to protect the soul of a loved one lost.

“Well!” Emma sighed out, “I have to admit, I had a motive for getting you inside for a chat.” Emma’s ears twitched down, her hands curled tightly around her cup. “I overheard my parents talking about Elder Smith and you the other night.”

A chill went through Rus despite the warmth of the tea. “you did?”

She nodded. “A bit of, but papa seemed quite angry about it. Said it was a disgrace, in broad daylight and everything. Rus, what happened?”

Even Blue didn’t know the entirety of the story and yet, Emma’s eyes were kind, no hint of a gossipmonger within them. Hesitantly, Rus told her the story, haltingly at first and then everything came spilling out in a rush. By the end, Emma had a hand over her muzzle, shock and anger of her own visible on her pretty face.

“No wonder father was angry!” she whispered. “And the shopkeeper, he didn’t say a thing?”

“not a word,” Rus said unhappily. His spoon clinked gently as he stirred his cooling tea and in the crook of his arm, the baby stirred but didn’t wake. “elder smith has influence and no little wealth. he was afraid to, i expect.”

“A coward, more like,” Emma said spiritedly, then she shook her head. Misery colored her expression. “Oh, Rus. I have a secret of my own, if you promise to keep it.”

“of course,” Rus told her, and he would. Confessing to her made the burden of knowledge seem lighter on his soul; surely, he could offer the same.

Emma chewed on her lower lip, blinking too hard, “Elder Smith made a similar offer to me not a week ago, when I was working at the stand alone. Asked if I wouldn’t consider coming to his home from time to time to do a little housework.”

Rus gasped and made a warding sign against evil, because surely that was evil, far more than any he had found in the woods. He, at least, was getting a little long in the tooth for marriage. It might be explainable that an offer for some sort of future could be made, no matter how tawdry. But Emma was at the cusp of adulthood, she’d only taken to wearing the long, saffron cloak that bespoke of it this past month. Few parents would let daughters as young as Emma leave their homes for matrimony. Then again, he wasn’t offering for her hand so much as other parts of her. “emma, i can hardly imagine him being so bold, and to you of all people! did you tell your father?

She shook her head. “He would be ever so furious about it. He was quite angry over him speaking to you that way. And as you say, you can hardly believe it, who else would? All he offered was a chance for me to do a bit of housekeeping, truly, but his eyes…” Emma shivered, her own eyes downcast. “I thought it best not to say anything.”

A difficult choice, to be sure. Dogamy was a good farmer but he was only farmer, and he had a family to care for. Who knew what evils Elder Smith could wrought if he chose? Rus shook his head, unhappily, “perhaps you’re right. do be careful, emma, i…your father said he doesn’t like the smell of him.” Rus tapped his own face and his lack of a nose of his own. “i may not have the muzzle of your linage, but i don’t trust him, either. you’ll tell him if something else happens, won’t you?”

She nodded, sipping her tea, only to wince, “Oh, it’s gone cold. Let me make another pot.” With a thick cloth in hand, she took the kettle from the fire and poured hot water back into the teapot. “At least you might not have to worry about it much longer,” Emma said, and gave Rus a surprisingly sly look, smiling teasingly. “I overheard mamma say you may have a gentleman now. Perhaps he might settle the issue for you?”

Rus swallowed, inadvertently tightening his arms around the baby until he made a sleepy noise of complaint. He hardly remembered talking to Dogaressa that night, what had he said? “i…that is…”

“You needn’t tell me your secrets,” she said pertly and wagged a finger at him. “But I wouldn’t say a word to a soul, you goose!”

“maybe there’s a gentleman,” Rus mumbled. Heat was warming in his cheekbones, not entirely from embarrassment as thoughts of Edge filled his mind. Of last week, of the things they’d done.

“Oh?” Emma arched a brow at him, plucking a cookie from the plate and nibbling. “Mightn’t there be wedding bells in your future, then?”

“no,” Rus said quietly. He couldn’t even pretend that lie. “i think not. we’re only…well…that is…”

Emma looked gleefully scandalized, “Rus!”

“i’m not very marriageable, emma, and that’s a fact,” Rus sighed.

“Only because there’s so many fools in the village,” Emma said stubbornly, and Rus smiled weakly, warmed at her defense in spite of himself. “And he’s a fool if he’s only looking for milk without wishing to buy the cow!”

“emma!” Rus hissed.

She waved him off, “Oh, don’t be silly, I was raised on a farm!”

“anyway, it’s not like that,” Rus muttered. “it’s…we couldn’t possibly…but…”

She patted his arm, gently, “Do be careful, Rus? And come see me again, soon, won’t you? We’ll talk more, shan’t we, and I’ll keep your secrets if you keep mine.”

“i will,” Rus said gratefully, and their chatter turned to lighter subjects as they finished their tea.

~~*~~

 The next day as he walked through the wood, Rus considered what he was doing, this secret that he couldn’t speak of, not even to Emma. Though it had been a wonder to spend time chatting with someone who wasn’t his brother.

Emma was right, though, he did need to be careful, and not simply for his own sake. There was his brother to think of, and Edge, who was unaware of the danger he might be putting himself in by meeting Rus. Perhaps he should think about this more, pray for answers? Maybe even reconsider these meetings before they could take a poor turn.

Any thoughts of that evaporated as the clearing came into sight and with it, Edge. He was crouched by the fire, his cloak drawn back so the long lines of his legs were visible, long boots laced to the knee, and Rus swallowed thickly. Just looking at him was stirring, the forbidden crimson of his cloak no longer inspired fear but rather, something closer to longing.

Edge glanced up as Rus came closer and Rus raised a hand in greeting, “hello!”

He wasn’t expecting Edge’s sudden frown, nor the way he stalked over, taking Rus’s hand in his own. Something in his gaze was almost accusing and Rus could only blink at him in confusion, looking down at their clasped hands, his bones white against Edge’s gloved ones and—

“oh!” Rus exclaimed, “the gloves, of course. it’s a little warm for them yet, but then you’ve been wearing gloves every time we’ve met. all right, nanny, if you insist.” Rus drew them out and tugged them on, the buttery soft leather a formerly unknown pleasure against his bones. He waggled his fingers at Edge teasingly. “happy?”

It seemed so; Edge drew his hand up and kissed the mark at his wrist fondly as Rus watched in bemusement. Perhaps it was something of a traditional greeting for his people? If so, Edge was making up for them lacking it now, following the gloves up and lingering where the cuff met his shirtsleeve. Oh, he’d never known the bones of his arm could be so sensitive, shivering at the delicate gust of breath against them.

How could he have considered staying away from this, Rus thought hazily, letting Edge draw him closer to the fire. Perhaps this was a sin, but it was one for which he’d gladly beg forgiveness.

Edge sank to the ground, pulling Rus with him to sit between his splayed legs, and Rus tipped his head back, hoping for a kiss.

One that was eagerly granted, and Rus could only moan, settling his trembling hands on Edge’s knees and this time when Edge’s fingers plucked at his shirt buttons, Rus only sighed against his mouth and let him, whimpering as gloved fingertips stroked his ribs, following them back to where they met his spine.

“oh,” Rus sighed. Edge broke the kiss, his mouth hot and gentle against Rus’s cervical vertebra. Coaxing him wordlessly to tip his head to the side, granting him access to sensitive bone and cartilage. Hands skirting his waistband found the fastenings of his trousers and Rus tried not to flinch as they were unbuttoned, the placket opened and this time his hands didn’t simply venture within. They tugged, pulling his trousers lower and Rus closed his sockets tightly, lifting his hips and letting Edge pull them free.

Leaves rustled and crackled beneath him as he was turned and lowered to the ground, gentle hands ridding him of his shoes and trousers. He shivered, even with the warmth of the fire, as cool air touched his bones and then Edge was kneeling over him, his eye lights bright, moving avidly over Rus.

Blushing, Rus thoughtlessly tried to cover himself with his hands; no one had ever seen him like this, not only bare but with arousal thrumming hotly, visibly, at the crux of his legs. Only to have his hands caught, a kiss pressed again to the symbols on his wrist.

“No, no, no,” Edge murmured against the soft leather. “K’uhah. Rus, k’uhah.”

“i…i don’t…know what that means,” Rus stuttered out, but the reverence with which it was said made a low thrum pulse in his soul. He let his hands go lax, falling to the ground, and Edge slipped lower, his mouth hot against Rus’s ribs, tongue dipping lightly against his spine, his pelvis and then—

Rus’s shocked wail was cut off by his own hands, muffled into his gloves as Edge pressed his face between his legs and he stared sightlessly at the sky, sockets wide. His brother hadn’t mentioned any of this!

But how could he, how could he have ever explained the unbearable pleasure of a tongue moving against him, the soft, satisfied noises that Edge made as he lapped tenderly. The sharp, hungry glow of his eye lights as he looked up at Rus, and Rus jerked helplessly, fingers scrabbling uselessly at Edge’s skull as he pressed a finger inside him. The sweet, wet touch of his tongue was wonderful and wrong, nothing should feel so terribly good, and Rus could only squirm and whimper, easily held.

Dimly, Rus could feel sweat trickling down his face, stinging in his sockets, but it was as distant as a dream. Edge’s breath was hot against him, following the path of his tongue and heating the wetness it left behind, and his fingers were clever, matching its rhythm. Shuddering, Rus curled up, pleading in low, broken words but he was beyond caring that Edge couldn’t understand him. The pleas of his body were plain, and he needed…he needed, arching into the relentless pressure of Edge’s hands and mouth.

Another thin cry escaped him, torn loose, and with Edge’s name falling raggedly from his throat, Rus let the pleasure overwhelm him. It seemed endless, wracking him, cresting to nearly unbearable until Edge finally drew away, his hands soothing down Rus’s femurs.

Rus could only blink, dazedly, as Edge shifted up to settle between his legs. He was heavy, the weight of his body more than Rus had expected, and his cloak settled over them both, rough fabric against the bareness of Rus’s bones. A shift of his hips dragged the clothed shape of his arousal against Rus’s pelvis, making him gasp, his hands scrabbling at Edge’s shoulders.

Edge made a sound, close to a growl, leaning down to press his mouth to Rus’s, smearing wetness and oh, that faint sweetness was himself, wasn’t it, this was going so quickly, too quickly, he could feel Edge reaching between them, shifting to lower his leggings and--

“oh!” Rus gasped aloud, looking down and gaping as Edge took himself in hand. That hadn’t felt quite so large in his own hand last week, he couldn’t imagine such a thing fitting inside him, he knew it should, he…he knew it…and…

A trickle of fear was starting to thread its way through his desire, he wanted this, he didn’t want it. The tip grazed his pelvis and they both jerked, Edge with a groan and Rus with a whimper. He turned his face away, squeezing his sockets closed and the warmth of stinging tears only barely registered.

“Rus,” low and gentle, whispered to him, and the pressure of Edge’s weight eased. Startled, Rus looked up and Edge cupped his face in a hand, his thumb stroking over his cheek bone. Again, so softly, his own name, “Rus.”

Fear receded as Edge didn’t move, only stayed half-crouched over him. Despite his obvious need, despite the fact that Rus was so terribly exposed and available, he only stroked Rus’s cheek, murmuring softly to him, his name and words that Rus could only wonder at their meaning. 

“let…let me?” Rus whispered. Hesitantly, Rus reached down, his hands hovering, then cupping the heavy length. A sharp huff of breath escaped Edge in a groan and together, they stroked him.

Sweat was trailing damply down Edge’s skull, tension rising as his hips followed the clumsy rhythm of Rus’s hands. With his tunic rucked up and his leggings only barely lowered, he was a mess of disarrayed clothing and the heat in his eye lights melted into a vague daze as hot wetness fell between them, pattering softly on Rus’s pelvis. Ducking his head, Edge kissed him harshly, making a sound against Rus’s mouth that might have been a groan, might have been words, or perhaps a mixture of both. His weight was heavy against Rus again as he sagged down but this time Rus welcomed it, wrapping his arms around Edge and pulling him in close.

There was nothing but the faint rustle of leaves and the crackle of the fire, their breath mingling as it slowed.

With a groan, Edge shifted up on his elbows, looking down at Rus. His eye lights were softer, the deep crimson seemed lighter in the autumn sunshine.

“hello?” Rus offered, weakly, and Edge made a chuffing sound of laughter.

“Hello,” he replied, nuzzling a kiss against Rus’s teeth. “Hello, Rus. K’uhah.”

“i do wish i knew what that meant,” Rus sighed. “it’s certainly a pretty sounding word.”

Edge only tipped his head to the side curiously.

“pretty,” Rus tried, “k’uhah, pretty.”

“Pretty,” Edge repeated agreeably. “Pretty k’uhah. Pretty Rus.”

It made a blush rise in his cheekbones even though Edge couldn’t have known what he was saying. Cool air was starting to seep beneath Edge’s cloak, tickling at the places Rus was bare, and he squirmed until Edge reluctantly moved, letting him stand.

Maddeningly, he insisted on helping Rus with his trousers, which consisted more of him trailing his fingers over Rus’s femurs, down to stroke his ankles and feet as Rus struggled to put on his shoes around his tricksy fingers.

“you’re terrible,” Rus told him with fond exasperation.

“Terrible,” Edge agreed eagerly, stealing another kiss.

The light was already taking on tones of dusk, Rus saw unhappily. The shorter days were no friend of his, and with a last kiss, Rus tried to draw away. “i need to be getting home, i’m afraid.”

Only to be stilled by a hand on his arm and Rus blinked, perplexed, as Edge drew him down to sit next to him. For once, he kept his hands to himself, instead holding up a single leaf as he slowly said a word. When Rus only looked at him, confused, Edge twirled the leaf in his fingers and said it again, gesturing at Rus.

“leaf?” Rus asked, puzzled and Edge brightened, nodding.

“Leaf,” Edge agreed. He dropped it and they both watched as it fluttered to the ground. Patiently, he picked it up and dropped it again, mimicking its path with his hand. And again, fluttering his fingers behind it as it fell.

“um. down? fall? falling leaf?” Rus tried, and Edge nodded, satisfied.

“Leaf fall,” Edge looked pleased. “Rus and Edge, home, leaf fall.”

“home. leaf fall. we should be home as the leaves fall?” Rus muttered. Oh, he’d never cared for puzzles the way his brother did. He sorted through it, trying to understand, then it clicked. “oh! oh, yes, we should be home during the winter, yes.” He smiled, happy that he’d understood. “rus and Edge, home for the leaf fall.”

It made an ache rise in his chest to think of it, but he could hardly wade through snow drifts to see Edge. Terrible as it was to consider, Edge was right, they would have to be home for the ‘leaf fall’, as he put it.

Just imaging it made him tired. Back home for the entirety of winter, back to spend all his days in the village. Without Edge.

Rus shook away his growing melancholy. They had a little more time, the first few snowfalls were usually mild as well, they could still…he could still…

Gently, Edge drew his hand up and pressed a kiss to the symbol on Rus’s wrist, sighing, then he rested his cheek there a moment, breathing in. Scenting him, Rus realized, the way he so often did. As though Rus smelled of something wonderful, as if he was something wonderful.

How was he supposed to give this up?

The fading light was a reminder, a warning. He needed to leave. Pained, he carefully drew free, Edge’s hand holding his own until the very last touch of their fingertips.

“i’ll come back,” Rus promised softly. “next week, i’ll be back.”

“Leaf fall, home,” Edge said, and though he was smiling, Rus winced.

“Well, we’ll deal with that when it comes,” Rus whispered. A little desperately, he pressed a last kiss to Edge’s teeth and then spun away, walking quickly before he could be tempted to linger any longer. His gloves were soft and comfortingly warm in the growing chill and it was with true regret that he had to peel them off as the boundary of the woods came into sight.

The cold was a reminder of the coming winter, more so even than the leaves crunching beneath his feet, and Rus shivered, pushing the thought away. There was still a little time yet with Edge and he was going to take every scrap that he could.

 tbc

SOUND: https://www.ruspeach.com/en/news/9258/ С приходом осенних холодов и переменчивой погоды, люди начинают подхватывать простуду и плохо себя чувствовать. У медиков есть свои рецепты борьбы с первыми симптомами гриппа или простуды, но народные средства еще никто не отменял. Какие бабушкины рецепты до сих пор эффективны против высокой температуры и других симптомов простуды? - теплое обильное питье с витамином С (чай с лимоном, отвар шиповника) - обтирание уксусом или спиртом (при высокой температуре) - ингаляции с луковицей (разрезать луковицу пополам и положить у постели больного) - растереть грудную клетку камфорным маслом (при кашле) - теплый куриный бульон With autumn cold and changeable weather, people start catching cold and feel bad. Medics have their recipes against the first symptoms of flu or colds, but still folk remedies has not been canceled. So what grandmother's recipes are still effective against high temperature and other symptoms of cold? - warm plentiful drink with vitamin C (tea with a lemon, dogrose broth) - rubdown by vinegar or alcohol (at high temperature) - inhalations with a bulb (to cut a bulb in half and to put at the patient's bed) - camphor oil embrocation for thorax (at cough) - warm chicken broth чувствовать [chufstvavat`] - to feel тепло [tiplo] - warm плохо [plòkha] - badly лимон [limon] - lemon грипп [grip] - influenza, grippe больной [bol`noj] - sick man www.ruspeach.com

Tell us a story about the craziest sleepover you've ever had

huh. well. i dont. remember a whole lot. but there was this one.I was at a friends house, someone I had been friends with since kindergarten (we were in middle school at the time).We. were a bunch of fucking memers, at one point i think i remember us putting on the caramelldansen and just doing the dance for like. a good amount of time. i think we also played songs like the hamster dance and those....perry gripp songs???We had watched the nightmare before Christmas. and then we kept making 'whats this' jokes. there was this giant box next to the computer desk and I remember going in there and coming out saying 'whats this!!'. at one point i climbed out the window - first floor mind you, but it was still a drop on the outside, so there was a chair for when i climbed out - and when i climbed back in i said 'whats this!' anyways. we overdid that joke.we had put on labyrinth- uk, with david bowie- and were gonna do the 'Chinese fire alarm' or somwthing like that??? idk it was weird uh, basically what you did was wed all get off the couch, rush around it, and then sit back down. i have no fucking clue why its named like iy was or why we were doing it. but partway through we just. went outside with blankets and laid down on the trampoline, and were fully expecting to sleep out there. and their 'backyard' didnt. have a fence or anything. we could be seen by the street, but middle schoolers dont care abt that. anyways me and some other ppl got cold fast - p sure it was like autumn or smth - but the host and one other stayed outside for like an hour longer. and thats. all i can really remember. id say that was one of my 'wilder' sleepovers i had.

Youngster Performing Scams And How To Locate Them.

Cold and also flu are both very most common viral diseases influencing kids. Directly my favored vitamin, related web-site which by definition is actually not definitely a vitamin, is actually Vitamin D. The reason the majority of folks do certainly not receive the flu in the warmer months is actually given that our bodies are actually making 20,000 - 30,000 IU of vitamin D after 15-30 moments from sunshine visibility. I assume this makes this simpler to emotional contain the damage by informing your own self that your mama may be actually incapable from affection, and so on This leaves behind the youngsters soul-scarred forever. According to the internet site's efficiency rating, the leading brands to consider are Xtend-Life's Total Balance Children, Mercola Children's Multivitamins and also Vitamin Code Children through Garden of Lifestyle. Besides the given procedure to avoid cool and coughing one generally should engage in good health behaviors like getting lots of sleep, being actually literally active, taking care of stress and anxiety, drinking enough fluids and also very most essentially eating nutritious food items. Older children, over age 2, will definitely be actually whiny as well as tired, will ask for drinks, and in some cases will definitely complain of having coldness or even "injuring all over." If you keep in mind any one of these changes in your youngster, regardless of how old he is, it is intelligent to take his temp. If a mama is actually taking care of past injuries of her own, she is frequently unable to make herself on call to her little ones, claims Gerlach. For the health of my kids and health and wellness from my marriage, I need to make my self-care a top priority. However, if your kid seems a little bit worn out or even the cold is actually alonged with a fever, muscle pains or even swollen glandulars, dipping into home might be a far better possibility than a journey to the swimming pool. Might ilan rin akong kapatid, at ako ang panganay sa kanila. This will have its own opportunity to obtain better generally 3 to 4 days sometimes 7 to 10 days. Twelfth: Allow that this has time-sometimes a whole lifetime-to fully rid your own self from a sense of fretfulness given that it is actually frequently such an ingrained, automatic behavior of taking action, experiencing and thinking.

Most of these personal ideas as well as desires stem from either a failure to see the planet by means of the autistic little one's view or even from an anxiety from being various, socially unaccepted, or in some way inferior as moms and dads if your youngsters do not function as others think they should. As well as their very own pleasant little bit of skins were actually presently dissolved in rips; so that their dad, finding just what odd factors sometimes happen within this every-day planet, experienced not a little bit of anxious lest his little ones may be heading to thaw too! Naturopathic treatments can assist you out along with many "influenza" situations - or grippe, or flu, especially when many individuals around you are actually feeling inadequate and also the situation is actually prompt ending up being prevalent, often during the autumn, spring and wintertime. Family centers are actually accredited for as much as 8 little ones and also team centers are accredited for a lot more kids. Isang ordinary na tao ako. For example parents today are extremely regarded for the absence of personal privacy these sites provide. Indian immigrant households in the United States commonly discover this difficult to administer Indian opinions regarding bring up youngsters in United States culture.

Happy Sunday! I got sick, so I’m on my couch and watching TV for the whole day. Had some Pumkinsoup 👍

it's FRIDAY and that means a lil content for PATRONS!!! 

THIS WEEK!!!!! A BELATED (kinda) PRIDE THEMED ILLUSTRATION 

PARADISE CHAPTER SIX // Page 23

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Bright Spots

November and I had more than just our differences.

(S)he seemed intent on making life difficult left, right and centre.

I was struggling not to let students’ misbehaviour affect me. I got the grippe québécoise badly and had to retreat to bed. I wound up keeping an unprecedented and unwelcome secret. I was troubled by matters of the heart. Et cetera.

At the time I thought December would never come around. Although of course eventually it did.

And I like remembering that bright spots almost always find a way of tucking themselves into darker days.

Breaking away to Quebec City — or just Québec in French, which can be confusing if you get the gender wrong because le denotes the province and la the city — for a little while helped me gain perspective.

I thought I’d better finally get round to posting a few images and impressions of Québec as it was then before I go back for the carnaval — which is bound to be wintry and wonderful beyond words — in a week’s time.

So here they are.

All the language assistants — English, German, Mexican and Canadian — had been give time off work to come to Québec for an obligatory session de formation.

The Orléans Express got us to Québec with time to spare before there were any actual commitments. So after checking in we went for a walk.

A golden patch of evening light was moving its way around the square. Every few minutes it would leave one surface behind and illuminate a new one.

Because of its older status, Québec wears an urban geography that is genuinely nonuniform.

In the grand scheme of life, 1911 is pretty recent. But I felt strangely reassured by the rust and signs of deterioration which give this building a past.

It didn’t rain even a little bit, despite what the dense grey cloud suggests.

The occasional cross is a reminder of how Catholicism used to be a defining feature of Québec. I suppose in some ways it still is by association.

I was and am still deeply saddened and troubled by the recent shooting at one of the city’s mosques. It scares me that events like this are becoming commonplace and starting to lose their shock factor as a result.

Because there are only two tones on the map you have to fill in the colour blanks for yourself.

It takes a second or two to spot the real leaf that’s camouflaged.

After dark, we went skating in a square. I normally get on alright if someone puts me on a rink, but I nearly killed my ankles wearing figure skates with no joint support whatsoever.

I saw one tiny piece of graffiti, just words.

You can me paint me / I will still be there

It could mean anything at all. Or nothing in the slightest.

The last of the autumn days really was upon us.

Only a scattering of leaves remained on the trees.

Before the weekend, daylight hours were mainly spent concentrating in workshops.

On the second night, we went to a cabane à sucre on the Île d’Orléans where it was possible to incorporate maple syrup into every single one of the three courses.

At the weekend, I slept across the river in Lévis.

It takes about ten minutes by ferry to get there. You get a wonderful overview of Québec thrown into the bargain.

Petit Champlain is the oldest shopping district in North America.

Ironically I didn’t go into any shops.

I think the neighbourhood looks timeless when in black and white. Except perhaps for the Converse-style sneakers that stand out bottom centre.

Since Montmorency Falls Park is within reach, we decided it was definitely worth taking time out of Saturday for.

Hexagonal — or possibly heptagonal or octagonal, hard to tell — lookouts with green-blue rooves line the sides of the slope.

The falls’ claim to fame is that at 83 metres they are 30 metres taller than Niagara Falls.

Photographing feet seems to be turning into a slight obsession of mine.

His perfectly shined shoe was attached to the leaf for the duration of the ride. I didn’t want them to have to part ways.

Château Frontenac is arguably Québec’s most iconic and easily identifiable attraction.

I’m pretty sure only hotel guests are meant to go up to the top floors, but we took the elevator anyway and tried to blend in.

I think the Château is a book you have to judge by its cover.

The exterior is just more impressive than the ordinary interior.

Not a patch on Cardiac Hill, I know, but having some changes in relief for once felt good.

Sunday was spent in and out of museums, one of which is adjacent to the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec.

The Musée de l’Amérique francophone is really worth a visit. It contains a lot about the history of and traces left by colonisation.

One knock-on effect of colonisation was increased movement of people. Thoughts from travellers of the period are scattered throughout the exhibition.

Si on est marqué pour aller quelque part, on ne peut pas empêcher la vie de nous y emmener.

I’m not sure I agree with this idea that if we are being pulled in one direction we have no choice but to follow through.

I armed myself with coffee and salted caramel cheesecake in Baguette & Chocolat and left Québec sufficiently full of goodness.

Coughs And Colds In Children

Cold weather and flu are the 2 very most typical popular diseases affecting little ones. Youngsters need to have a bunch of physical exercise, both bodily and also mental, but they do certainly not require troubles and also if you believe that an unpleasant niggling fear is actually at the base from this minor catastrophe try to receive your little one to inform you regarding that. Focus at night opportunity, a story, a little activity as well as a lot of kisses as well as nuzzles to guarantee may be taxing and tiring but they are actually far much less thus and also even more worthwhile compared to cleaning sheets. A lot more normally, nevertheless, the client has actually been actually for some time in bedroom and asleep, just before the attributes of the condition with which he is intimidated appears; after that, perhaps, without waking, he provides a quite unusual coughing, well known to any type of one that has actually witnessed a strike from the croup; this sounds as if the child had actually hacked through a brazen horn; this is really a tussis clangosa; this permeates the walls as well as flooring of the apartment, as well as scares the seasoned mother, 'Oh! Additionally, if they have a base from steady profit help for their little ones, they are able to devote more opportunity with all of them, as well as even more funds and also time on their advancement, which connects to decrease childhood years poverty and also better educational end results for youngsters. Adult height is actually determined through several elements, featuring genetic makeups, nourishment and one-time offer general wellness - yet also possessing the very same genes and eating a similar diet plan while growing up carry out certainly not suggest pair of little ones will definitely grow to be the same size. For example, if you lost your parents considerably prematurely in lifestyle, you could really feel unique seriousness indigent nearness with your very own adult youngsters, the chance to discuss opportunities you never ever can with your parents.

Just when that appears like this is your kid's luck you go to the conference to locate no one there and also merely when you contact the scammer "talent scout" back concerning the scenario, their contact information are actually useless and you've simply put your self in debt between the $3,000 $4,500 range.The claim regarding colleague acceptance and opportunity devoted before the looking glass for the advancement of self photo provides details concerning the adolescent's needs to the moms and dads as well as might help to obtain trust fund along with the teen.While they could not possess the time for individually conversations, they will definitely find fantastic comfort at the center of the evening as they lie awake in the hospital checking messages - advising all of them that they are actually not alone (given that they feel like it).A channel size red onion need to be pulverized, the extract of one lemon needs to be actually added to it, then one cup from boiling water ought to be soaked this. Some honey ought to be incorporated for taste as well as it must be gotten two or 3 opportunities a time.Without a doubt every country, led by Denmark (at 3% kid poverty rate) that possesses a government kid help plan has lesser childhood poverty fees than the United States (at TWENTY%) and also much better academic performance than the United States (which positions # 27 in the international mark, under every developed nation with a little one education plan).Many people really feel a children gives as well as feet to determain weather condition the youngster is cold yet this really isn't the situation as it is certainly not precise at all as these are generally colder compared to the body anyway.Holistic treatments can easily help you out with most "flu" scenarios - or even grippe, or even influenza, particularly when many individuals around you are experiencing unsatisfactory and the condition is actually quick ending up being epidemic, often during the course of the winter, autumn and also spring.

From the Rooster to the Dog (Part Two)

Lots of people contact us at this time of the year to ask whether we have snow. 

Very occasionally we do but sadly not enough to clip on the skis and head downhill. 

If the thought of skiing in small resorts away from the alpine hustle and bustle appeals then the Cévennes do offer two great areas worthy of exploring. Mont Lozère (www.lemontlozere.com) is about 40km from us and offers a wide range of snow sport adventure activities including not only traditional alpine skiing and snow boarding but also tobogganing, cross country skiing and snow kites. At around double the distance from us sits the majestic Mont Aigoual (www.pratpeyrot.fr), officially the tallest mountain in the Cévennes National Park and one well worth visiting whether for winter or summer outdoor adventure activities. 

Whilst we don't officially open from November until March as this is a time we catch up on travaux both inside and outside (as well as visiting family and friends both near and far), we are always happy to receive enquiries from those who love and appreciate this time of the year for what it has to offer. 

Winters here have more than their share of blue sky days 

although the weather can close in and offer dramatic chilly landscapes for visitors and locals alike.

With the arrival of the autumn and winter seasons comes the chance of episodes cevenoles, extended periods of apocalyptic rains which we have learnt (through bitter experience) need to be respected. When we first arrived we paid little regard to the stories we had heard, only to experience not one but several such episodes in a very short space of time during Autumn 2014. Our initial casual approach quite literally changed over one eventful night. Since then we have certainly honed our water management skills to ensure the farmhouse and surrounding land withstand whatever the weather chooses to throw at us. 

January this year is proving to be a calmer than usual period for us. La grippe has reached the Midi and we are quarantining ourselves as much as possible to avoid such misery! 

A great opportunity then for us to plan for what lies ahead this coming year. 

Keep an eye out for a series of short snappy blogs from here on in with exciting news of what will be on offer here for those choosing to stay with us at Sentiers Perdus.